US2936944A - Telescopic self-sealing containers - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1960 G. A. MOORE 2,936,944

TELESCOPIC SELF-SEALING CONTAINERS Filed April 11. 1958 I NV E'N TOR.

United States PatentlO" 2,936,944 TELESCOPIC SELF-SEALING CONTAINERS I George Arlington Moore, New York,

Application April 11, 1958, Serial No. 727,928

8 Claims. (Cl. 229-34 This invention relates to containers of paper-board or other sheet material, and more particularly to novel 'feature embodiments in the structure formed of the sheet material, the form of construction being made adaptable for assembly with a tubular shaped component formed of similar sheet material or of transparent plastic material and thus provide a novel and self-sealing display container for use in marketing commercial products such as articles'of merchandise including food-stuffs and other commodities in general except liquids.

Conventional containers such as folding cartons have been provided witha window in a cut out section of a wall of the'carton for visible display of its contents. Such cartons therefore can not have the basic protection provided for the contents thereof by being overwrapped with protective sheet material usually employed for cartons made without windows. The opposite end closures of the window cartons are folded and glued in separate stages by complicated and expensive carton set-up and closing machinery. The closures are seldom tight enough to be leak-proof. Another conventional type of container used by packers is a five sided tray folded of paper-board 2,936,944 Patented May 17, 1960 are attained by this invention an embodiment of which, I

and overwrapped with cellophane or other transparent sheet material in order to protect and visibly display the tray contents. Such containers are of flimsyconstructionand requires expensive overwrap machine operation to-- complete the container, the wrapper being seldom taut around the tray thus resulting in the above mentioned flimsy construction. 7 I

The present invention contemplates an improvement on v the above types of conventional containers and one of the prime objects herein is to provide a new and novel container construction wherein by a simple and inexpensive operation of assembling two structural components together the container is completed with end closures formed in the one simple operation.

Another object of the invention 'isto provide an improved container having novel structural means to produce .resilient coactive effects upon the assembly of the two component parts that closes and substantially seals the container initially and after periodic'dispensing of portions of its intended contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a con- 7 tainer of the above type with substantially impervious r interior wall surfaces and structural means having selfc ompensating effects to maintain a constant snug-fitting relationship of the two structure forming components that constitutes the container. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved container having novel means for affording good protection as well as clear visible display of the particular product intended for the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a container made of foldablesheet material wherein a novel joint construction at the converging corner ends of the transversely disposed walls thereof is effective to promote the forming of tight endclosures.

have illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are utilized for the purpose of illustration only, and are not to be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention,

reference being had for this purpose to the appended,

claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views shown;

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of a blank having substantially like ends and adapted to be formed into the major component part of a container of the above type; Fig. 2' is a plan view showing a fragmentary portion of a similar blank embodied with a modification upon the endsthereof;

' Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the component part as formed from the blank of Fig. 1 and shown partially engaged with another component part in assembly rela- I tionship constituting the container;

Fig. .4 is a perspective view showing the completed assembly of the component parts constituting the closed and self-sealed container;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 3 taken along line 5-5 showing the converging corner construction of the component formed of the'blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a'fragmentary sectional view of the assembled container shown in Fig. 3 taken along line 6-6 showing the resilient co-active relationship of the component parts assembly;

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of the container showing the converging corner construction of the component parts assembly thereof, a side wall portion of one component part being shown in cross section; and

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of the container structure shown in Fig. 7 taken along line 88 showing the parts including a modification shown embodied upon the end of a wall portion of a component part thereof.

The present invention is particularly directed to a means and method of forming a novel container by having a resiliently active fitting relationship effected 'between two component parts when assembled together to constitute a self-closing container that is substantially selfsealing actuated by, the resilient activity of its novel structure. The resiliency feature of the structure, however, being also adapted for embodiment in other types of containers 'made of foldable sheet material and forv closure forming purposes.

To this end, an open tray-like container structure is folded of a cut and creased blank of suitable sheet material formed and secured into the desired tangible shape. Theopposed side walls thereof are provided with folded marginal corner edges that form resiliently active flanges constituting at least, one pair of opposed longitudinal spring active ledges and transversely thereof a pair of opposed end flanges or spring active ledges. The opposed ends of each pair of ledges are provided with novel cut edges that will form strong and tight converging corner joints to the structure of the container when it is inserted into a tubular sleeve shaped coincident to receive the tray in telescopic relationshoip, thereby forming a con- Since the ledges are serting the tray-like component into the sleeve component the Walls of the tubular sleeve cause the folded marginal portions of the ledges to compress substantially together thereby effecting a snug fitting relationship of the tray to the wallsof the outer disposed sleeve. The hereinbefore mentioned novel cut edges of the'folded resilient v gammaledges have elfects that strongly reinforce the end walls sleeve. The sleeve component may be formed of transparent plastic material thereby providing means for visible display of the particular product intended for use of the container.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the present in-.

.vention is illustrated therein as including a container blank 4 which is divided into surface areas by means of a pair of longitudinal creased lines 5 and transversely thereof crease lines 6, into a base wall portion 7 and two opposed foldable side wall forming panels 8. The panel portions are each provided with a longitudinal creased line '9 and an outwardly positioned parallel creased line 10 dividing foldable marginal portions 11' and 12. The opposed end cut edge 13 of the margin 11 is disposed at right angles outwardly 'of the creased line 9." The adjacent end edge of the margin 12 is cut into an angular shaped notch 14. The base edge of the notch extends inwardly at right angles to the edge portion 13 of the margin 11.

the creased line 6 and inwardly of a creased line 16 disposed outwardly in spaced relation with the creased line 6. An opposed pair of cut lines 17 extend outwardly in alignment with the creased lines 5 separating the foldable extended pair of panels 18 from the end panel 15. A foldable flange portion 19 of the end panel is provided with opposed cut end edges 20 and 21. The angular edge portion 20 intersects at a point with the cut lines 17 and a terminal end of the creased line 16. The edge portion 21 is disposed substantially at right angles of the end edge 22 of the flange 19. One of the end flanges 19 of the blank may be extended outwardly between its side out edges 21 to provide any increased printing surface area as may be desired for enhancing the decorative effects of the container when assembled. The angularcut edges 14 and 20 are adapted tobe engaged into abutment when assembling the container.

The sheet material of which the blank 4is forrned may be of any suitable composition that can be folded and adhered together in certain sections of its wall engaging surfaces. However, paper-board or other sheet material having at least one surface thereof applied with a plastic material such as wax, polyethylene or other film coating having required qualifications for protection of the intended product tobe contained is preferable. Such plastic material utilized may have thermoplastic properties used for seam securing purposes of the blank. Wax may be applied over the surface of the thermoplastic film and thereby provide good slip and seal tension for certain areas thereof. 7

The structure of the blankmay be modified as illustrated by the blank 4' shown in Fig. 2, wherein the flange portion extended outwardly from the end panel 15 may be modified to take the form of the flange as shown. The flange portion is divided into two foldable marginal areas 23 and 24 separated by the creased line 25 disposed outwardly of the parallel creased line 26. The foldable twin marginal flange is provided with opposed side ends cut with the edge 27 disposed at right angles between the creased lines 25 and 26. The other end 28 of the margin 24 is cut angular'shape 'and'sloped outwardly from the adjacent edge 27. A substantially square notch having c'ut edges 27, 3t) and 31 is formed at the terminal ends of the slit cut line 17 and the transversely disposed creased line 26.. The angular cut edge 23 is coincident with the I angular cut edge 14 of the blank marginal portion 12,

32 of the container. The longitudinal side walls 8 are folded about the creased lines 5 and at right angles to the central panel 7' that forms the base bottom wall closure of the component. The end panels 15 are folded up- 7 wardly and inwardly from the creased lines 6 and the panels 18 are folded inwardly from the corner ends of the side wall panels 8 in order to overlap the prior folded end 7 pair of panels 18 may be matched into abutment if de- The base wall portion 7 is provided with opposed foldable end panels 15 disposed outwardly of forming panels 15. The end'edges of the overlapping sired andto alford maximumreinforcernent to the inner folded panel wall portion 15. The interior surfaces of the formed walls 7, 8 and 15 may be plastic covered and rendered free of raw edge wicking exposure as illustrated in the cross sectional view of these walls shown in Fig. 5. The plastic coating33 on the wall surfaces may be thermoplastic and thereby serve as an adhesive bonding agent for heat sealing the inner surfaces of the folded panels 18 upon the exterior surface of the folded end panels 15. The heat and pressure applied upon the exterior surfaces of the panels heat fuses the. plastic to plastic mate- 1 rial in the corner junctions 34 of the folded structure thereby sealing the raw cut edges 17 of the end panels 15 in a bed of the plastic material as illustrated at 34 in Fig.5.

During or after the component 32 is formed the opposed pair of longitudinal marginal portions 11 and 12 of the side walls 8 are folded into superimposing relationship. Each margin 11 is folded inwardly and downwardly of the corresponding side wall and the marginal portion 12.. is folded upwardly, outwardly and down-- wardly in a position to meet the outer surface of the folded marginal portion 11 thereby forming a pair of resiliently active ledges along the longitudinal corner edges of the side walls 8. It will be noted that the opposed the folded margins being plastic covered. The foldable, flange portion 1% of the end wall panel 15 may be opposed by the flange portion 35 of the other end wall panel 15.. The latter flange may be cut to provide increased surface area in order to support printed matter requirements as may be desired for the containers intended product identification.

Again referring to Fig. 3 a tubular rectangular shaped sleeve component 37 is provided to complete the structure ofthe container. The sleeve is preferably formed of transparent plastic material of any desired and suitable composition shaped to provide two pair of side walls 38 and 39 arranged in opposing pairs with open ends. The longitudinal length of the component 37 is coincident with the. corresponding length of the component 32. The assembly of the component 32 into thecomponent 37 constitutes the structure of the container as shown in,

Fig. 4. This assembly is effected by compressing the v ledge margins 11 and 12 downwardly into flattened cone these cut edges being adapted to engage into abutments dition at one end thereof and the end edge 13 of each lower margin 11 forming an abutment upon the corresponding inner face of the adjacent end wall 15. The end wall flange 35 is folded inwardly and downwardly, so that the inner surface portions that are adjacent the angular cut edges 24 thereof lie upon a corresponding,

surface portion of the lower folded ledgemargin .11. In this condition at one end of the component 32 it is entered into an open end of the sleeve component 37. thereby further compressing the entered portion of the The folded ledges have a constant 1 ledgesand flange. tendency to spring upwardly but are resisted by the coin cident surface portions of the encasing Wall 39 of the Component 37. The slopededges-14 ofthe compressed ledges and sloped edges 20 of the flange 35 are brought into mitred edge abutting joints at the converging corner ends of the inserted component 32.. These abutted edges are formed to lie upon the upperLsurfaceportion of the lower margin 11 of the ledges, the mitred joint sloping inwardly and away from the abutted end edge 13 of the lower margin. The inwardly extended; straight. edges 21' of the flatly compressed flange35 are abuttedupon the corresponding corner edges of the comp'ressedledges thereby being effective to forma truss between the pair of ledges adjacent the entered end portion of the 'assembly. This form of structure prevents the side walls 8 from having a tendencytospring inwardly away from the side Walls 38 of the .outer component part 37. The abutted end edges 13 of the lowermargins of the ledges upon upper corresponding inner surfaces of the endwall panels 15. also form longitudinally disposed trusses be-t tween theend walls which, strongly resists the thrust imposed upon an end wall that is necessary to further insert. the component 32 into its related; component 37. The resilient activity of the; opposed pair of ledges cause theirrespective folded margin 12 to press upwardly and when initially closed maybe-provided with a: tampef proof stamp or label 43 adhesively attached over an end thereof as shown in Fig. 4 and thereby augment the seal ofthecontainer. 5 h Y 7 The tray component may becushionedlined inside with various types of; .p'rotectiv e material. for. protection of fragile articles that may be'intended for the container. For certain other types of products to be contained that need moisture or grease barrier protection, the'interior of thetray component ispreferably facedwith plastic film material having desired qualities including thermoplastic properties such as the lining of plastic hereinbefore described. In this respect.thesealing-efiiciency of the tray in the sleeve'can be increased by applying a coating of plastic film material upon the exterior surface of the end flanges 19 and 35; Hence, the surface engagements of the flanges with the sleeve wall 39 will be also plastic to plastic same as the relationshipestablished for the ledge margins 12 and, the plastic wall 39. By this arrangement flatly upon the corresponding-inner surface-portions of the opposing wall 39 of the sleeve component 37 as'shown in the cross sectional view of Fig. 6. The plastic. coating 33 upon the margin 12 is conducive of good slip'and cushion-like surface bearing contact upon'the opposing wall 39. i

The tray componentmaybe charged with ,its intended contents either before or after it is entered into the sleeve component by imposing aninward thrust upon anend thereof in any suitable manner to push it into the sleeve. As it slides therein the folded margins constituting the resilient ledges are compressed into self-superimposing the engaging wall 39v upon the end flanges with mitred joints established with the ends of the marginal portions 12;of the ledges'willconstitute aplastic surface sealed closure of the container-bythe simple operation of inserting the tray home in the sleeve, the seal being efiected bygthe fresiliency.;of theledges-thatare maintained in coplanar surface bearing relationship with the interior surface of the wall-closure 39. If desired, the plastic sleeve 37 maybe of molded form and the closure. constituted responding wall surfaces of the sleeve. During the tray movement its end wall flange 19 is folded inwardly and downwardly upon the exposed surface portions of the inwardly folded ledge margins 11 and the flange edge 22 is guidedto enter beneath the end edge 40 ofthe sleeve wall.39. The inwardly'sloping edges 20 of the folded flange 19 meet in abutments with the sloped edges 14 of the ledge margins 12 thereby forming an abutted mitre joint inwardly of the adjacent corner ends at the top of the vertical side wall 8 and end wall .18. The insertion is completed when the end walls of the tray are substantially. flush with the end edges of the sleeve as shown :by

also constitutes substantially. seam forming relationships in general of the container structure. This relationship is augmented by the opposed side edges 21 and 21' of the end flanges 19 and 35 respectively, having been providedwith a pair of straight edge portions 21 and 21' that are abutted with corresponding portions of the longitudinal corner edges 10 of the compressed ledges thereby constituting a pair of trussesspread between the pair of transversely disposed ledges thus serving to prevent the opposing pair of longitudinal side walls 8 of the inserted wall portion 39 thereofprovided with ;an' end edge having a slight bead 45 formed on the inner surface portion adjacent one end edge 40-as shown in Fig. 8'. The bead will function to provide a stop .pointforfthe' inserted tray. By applying wax over the surfaces of the tray, surface engagements with the walls of thesleeve. component are lubricated. thereby providing means for easy. slip upon the engaging surfaces when moving the tray in and outwardly of thesleeve including increased efliciency tobe derived in elfecting the self-sealing ability of: the container.

A substantially air-tight seal of. the tray within the-Jsleeve can be obtained by warm-heating the walls of the sleeve just enough to soften the wax film and upon cooling 'the walls, the wax-will harden thereby constituting the airtight sealing means. The surface tensionadhesion will yield,'however, by pressure applied inwardly upon an end wall of the tray component to open the container.

Should it be desired to form a resilient ledgegon the end wall 15 of the tray-'iri lieuofone or both of thedescribed flanges 19 and 35 respectively, then, the marginal portions 23 and 24 of the end wall 15' illustrated in Fig. 2 are folded on the score lines 25 and 26 preciselyas hereinbefore described forfolding the marginal portions 11 and 12 that forms the pair of longitudinal ledges of side wall 8.. The opposite end edges 27 of the margin 23 will be adapted to form an abutmentwith a portion of I 35 in forming mitred joints. By thus forming a resilient component 32 from having anyvtendency to lose their snugly fitted surface to surface relationship established upon the inner surfaces of the retaining side walls 38 of the component 37 The transparent wall 39 framed by the pair of ledges and the transversely disposed flanges provides a unique window panel for clear visible display of the product intended for the container. The container ledge'on at least one end wall of thetray component that in cross section is similar to the 'view. shown in Fig. 6 except for the wall portion 38 the result obtained would be to augment theefliciency of the surface tension seal of the container.

' Within the scope. of thepresent invention; the defined closure forming ledge structure of adjacent sidewalls of the container is contemplated tobeapplicable for em-Q bodiment in closure.constructions for other types of, containers formed of folded sheet material such as foiding;

cartons and shipping cases.. p The ledge structure L as. defined herein is suitably -adapted to engage sn p-5 face of a folded'end segment constituting a closure form ing wall panel portion of the carton or shipping case and in seam forming relationship.

I Whilesimp'le modificationsof the invention have been illustrated and described; it will be understood, by those skilled in the art,rthat various changes may be made therein without departing-from the general spirit of the invention. Reference willtherefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention,

What'is claimed is:

1. A telescopic self-sealing container formed of two component structural parts assembled together comprising the firstpart constructedof a folded blank that provides a tray-like structure having a flat bottom wall with integrally related side walls thereof arranged in one opposingpair and joined with a pair of adjacent end walls, the top of each side wall being provided with a longitudinal ledge formed of two-ply folded marginal portions defined by first and second folded margins disposed inwardly atsubstantially right angles along itsdependent side wall, the first and lower folded marginrhaving'its opposite end edges disposed in edge to surface abutments ship and having its opposite end edges mitred and sloped inwardly from the corner end of side and end walls thereby forming a pair of opposed longitudinal resiliently active ledges on "said one pair of side walls and having a constant tendency to spring upwardly and thereby resistrbeing flattened, said end walls each being provided with a top flange portion having opposite side edge portions mitred sloping inwardly and further extended with a straight side edge portion, said flange being folded inwardly and downwardly of its dependent end wall and said mitre edge portions each being aligned with a mitred end'e'dge of said resiliently free marginal portion of said pair of ledges, said extended straight edge portions of the flange being aligned with the longitudinal corner fold edge of said two-ply margins of the ledges, said first part defined being-inserted into the second component part consisting of a tubular body with open opposite ends and flat side walls that-enclose the bottom and one pair of side walls including the open top of the inserted first part, the co-acting effects of said insertion flattening said pair of ledges compressibly against their inherent resiliency whereby the total engaged surfaces of said assembly are intimately exerted into surface upon surface sealing relationship'of the two component structural parts constituting the container, said end wall flanges and mitred edges being flattened into coplanar surface relationship with the outer-ply margin of the pair of flattened ledges and forming mitred joints enclosed by one wall of the second component, said end walls of the first component constituting opposite end closures of the self-sealed container.

2. A telescopic container according to claim 1 wherein said first component part is provided with interior surfaces-of protective plastic film material constituting a substantially impervious surface interior, said second component part being composed of transparent plastic ma-' terial and whereby the surface portions of said outer-plyv margins of the ledges are plastic, pressed in plastic to plastic non-adhered surface sealing relationship with the enclosing wall of the second component effected by the resilient activity er said pair of ledges of the first component. a V

3. A telescopic container according to claim 1 wherein said firstffolded marginal portion of the ledges being constituted "to form apair of opposed longitudinal trusses of thelon gitudinal corner fold edge of said flattened ledges thereby forming a truss extended transversely between the pair of ledges adjacent the opposite ends thereof and constituted by said end wall flanges, whereby the exterior surfaces of the one pair of longitudinal side walls of the first component is maintained in pressure bearing relationship upon the opposing interior surfaces. of the side walls of said second component.

5; A telescopic container according to claim 1 wherein said mitred pair of edges of each end wall flange portion slopes inwardly and being disposed upon the exterior surface of each of said first folded ledge margin and adjacent the end wall abutted end edge thereof.

6. A telescopic self-sealing container comprising a traylike component part htereof having, a bottom, side and end'walls, the side walls being provided with folded and resiliently active ledge margins extending the full length on the top of said walls and each ledge consisting of a lower marginal portion thereof folded inwardly atnd downwardly of its dependent wall and having its opposite end edges abutted uponthe respective opposite inner corresponding surface portions of the opposing end walls, an upper marginal portion of the ledge being folded upwardly, outwardly and downwardly in superposed surface relationship with the first folded portion and which is resiliently free to spring upwardly, the opposite ends of the second folded margin being provided with mitred edges sloped inwardly from the corner end of said side and end walls and over the exterior surface ofsaid first folded margin, a flange portion projected from the top edge of each end wall being provided witha pair of opposed mitre edges sloped inwardly from the top of the corner ends of side and end walls complementary with said mitre ends of the ledges, said flange portion being folded inwardly and downwardly in the plane of said second folded marginal portion of the ledges and the complemented mitre edges forming mitred joints disposed upon the exterior surface portions of said first folded margins adjacent its abutted ends upon the end walls, said tray being inserted into a tubular sleeve component part of the container whereby, said ledges being resiliently active, press upwardly upon the top wallof said sleeve augmented by said end flanges thereby causing the bottom and'side wall surfaces of the tray to snugly engage upon the interior surfaces of the sleeve in surface to surface sealing relationship constitutedby the assembly closing together of said component parts to constitute said selfsealing container.

7. A self-sealing container comprising a tray having four flat side walls arranged in opposing pairs and being folded'at right angles from corner edges of a bottom wall portion, each of two of said side walls opposed being provided with a double folded narrow ledge superposedin marginal relationship articulated inwardly along the top corner edge of the dependent side wall, the lower margin being provided with straight cut opposite ends and the upper marginal portion with mitred cut opposite ends that are sloped inwardly from the top corner ends ofadjaceut sidewalls, each of the other two opposed side walls being provided with an inwardly folded flange articulated along the top end thereof and having a'mitred edge portion on its opposite side ends complementary with said mitred ends of the upper margin of the ledges, the upper face of said ledges and flanges being film coated to provide a lubricant and non-adhered sealing agent between flat surfaces and when sliding said tray inwardly and outwardly of a tubular sleeve having four flat side walls to encase the tray whereby, upon entering and sliding said tray home within said sleeve, the ledges and flanges are compressibly flattened into coplanar surface relationship upon the inner surface of the enclosing wall portion of the sleeve thereby forming mitre-joints ad- 9 jacent the corner ends of the adjacent side walls of the tray and said joints being sealed between said lower marginal portion of the flattened ledges and the enclosing wall portion of said sleeve effected by the co-acting resiliency of the flatly compressed ledges of the constituted self-sealing container.

8. A flat blank of foldable material adapted to be formed into -a tray-like container having four side walls arranged in opposing pairs and an integral bottom wall, said blank comprising :a sheet of said material provided with scored lines defining rectangular wall panels and cut to define a pair of foldable longitudinal side wall panels and another pair of foldable transverse end wall forming panels, the latter panels consisting of a foldable full panel extended from the defining end of said bottom forming wall panel, and two opposed foldable panel portions extended from each defining end of said pair of said wall forming panels, said full panel being separated from the other pair of panel portions by slit lines defining said edges of the full panel, said full panel being provided with a foldable flange defined with a score line extending transversely between said slit lines, the opposed side cut ends of the flange being shaped to provide a mitred edge portion sloped outwardly from the terminal end of said score line and the mitre ending in a straight edge portion in parallel with the adjacent slit line, the first mentioned pair of longitudinal panels each being pro vided with a pair of parallel score lines defining the" longitudinal end of the panel portion and twin foldable marginal portions separated centrally by one of said score lines to define an inner and outer margin, said inner marginal portion being provided with opposite ends cut straight and having a transversely disposed edge portion in line extending from an end of said central score line, said outer marginal portion being provided with opposite ends cut mitred to form a notch joining the outer transverse cut edge portion of said inner margin, said mitred cut edgesof the flange and outer margin being adapted to complement each other in forming mitred joint connections when folding the blank to form said tray-like container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1

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